Patent GB-255076-A (GB)
Abstract: 255,076. National Cash Register Co., (Assignees of Shipley, B. M.). July 9, 1925, [Convention date]. Adding and subtracting apparatus.-A machine of the Shipley cash register type is modified and adapted for the purpose of successively printing upon labels and checking the progress of such operations. The invention is described as applied to the business of despatching publications in bundles say, through the post, the number of publications to a bundle being limited by the postal regulations. In the example given an order for 230 publications is received and these are to be sent in bundles of not more than 35. By means of the machine the number 230 is entered in the adding and subtracting (or balance) totalizer and the keyboard cleared. The number 35 is then set up and by successive insertions of labels and operations of the machine under the control of a special release key this number is printed on the labels until the total 230 is exhausted and the totalizer overdrawn. This produces a locking of the release key and another such key hitherto locked must thereupon be used to add 35 to the totalizer and clear the keyboard, whereupon the total lever may be set and the machine operated to print the balance (20) upon the last label. In so far as the particular description of the known mechanisms is concerned, the Specification refers to Specifications 8119/15, 100,568, 100,569, 176,781, 191,349, 191,350, 193,898, 199,046, 215,010, 223,301, and 223,939. Keyboard. In addition to the amount keys 50, Fig. 1, numerical keys 50<1>, main release bar 82 and two banks of control keys 72, there is a special bank containing two release keys, namely, a " correction " key 70 and a " copies to bundle " key 71. These two keys each serve to release the machine and also control the balance totalizer for adding and subtracting respectively. Error keys. To release wrongly-set keys, the release shaft 60. Fig. 4, can be rocked manually by the usual finger lever 85, Fig. 1 but when it is only desired to cancel a setting on the kevs to the left of the total lever 80 a lever 86 is pulled forward to rock a corresponding portion of shaft 60 which is divided for this purpose. Release mechanism. The machine can be released by depression of the main release bar 82 or either of the release keys 70, 71. The means whereby the shaft 60 is freed for rotary movement by its controlling spring 141, Fig. 4, is well-known and includes a pair of pawls obstructing a flatted stud carried from the shaft. One pawl is removed by operation of the bar 82 and the other bv depression of a key in either of the control banks 72. The release keys 70, 71 by means of their detent plate are also capable of removing these pawls, and therefore either of these keys may release the machine. Furthermore. the locks on the release shaft may be freed by the action in conjunction of the total lever, when displaced from adding-position, and the main release bar 82. Balance totalizer. This is of known construction, having pairs of oppositely-driven accumulating pinions, and is shifted in the usual manner by cam mechanism controlled by the special bank so that the use of key 70 places the totalizer in adding condition and that of key 71 in subtractive condition. The highest pinion is connected with oppositely geared cams for ringing a bell whenever the pinion passes from 0 to 9 or 9 to 0. Keys, automatic release of. In all adding operations the amount and control keys are released at the end of the operation but in subtractive operations they remain depressed. The shaft 60 when fully rocked counterclockwise, Fig. 4, beyond normal position, at the end of an operation depresses the amount key detents in the usual manner and this rocking is brought about by the known mechanism shown in this figure, involving a link 140 operative by the lever 281 which is controlled by the cam groove 278 and normally, by a pin 283, engages a member 284 slidable on the link. Subtractive operations are initiated by depression of key 71 and this by means of a detent plate 296, Fig. 11, rocks a yoke 301 and thereby an arm 303 carrying a pin 304 bearing against a lever 305 pivoted to the link 140. The consequent displacement of this lever shifts the sliding member 284 to the left and thus permits the pin 283 to move idly in the slot of the link so as not to actuate it and therebv the shaft 60. Control of the machine-release mechanism by the balance totalizer. When this totalizer is overdrawn the machine cannot be released by either the key 71 or the bar 82. For this purpose to one of the cams connecting the highest pinion with the signal bell is secured a cam 320, Fig. 15, adapted to rock a shaft 321 carrying an arm 325 normally engaging a stud 330 on a spring- controlled arm 331. When the totalizer is overdrawn, therefore, this arm 325 releases the stud so that the arm 331 can be drawn to the left to obstruct a projection 336 on the release-shaft 60. If now the key 70 be depressed it will rock a detent plate 338 to rock in turn through a pin 337 the arm 331 so as to free the shaft 60. Depression of this key 70 can only take place when the totalizer is overdrawn for otherwise a one-way dog 342 mounted on the plate 338 is obstructed by a yoke 346 carried by the shaft 321. Printing-mechanism; column-printing. The data entered in the machine is printed in automatically selected columns upon a ledger card inserted on a table 349, Fig. 1, on the label inserted at 351 and on the usual record-strip retained in the machine. The column-printing is effected by selective control of the impression hammers through known means, this control being exercised by the differential mechanism of the special bank containing the two release keys 70, 71. Thus, when the differential latch is broken in the 9th position column 1 is selected, in the zero position column 2, in the 7th or 8th positions column 3, and in the 2nd or 5th positions column 4. The mechanism whereby this control of the balance bank differential is effected is described in Specification 268,839. Modified key-release mechanism. In the form shown in Fig. 32, there are only two machinerelease means, namely, the two keys 70, 71, and the shaft 60 is free by the removal of one obstructing pawl only. The amount keys are released in adding operations by means normally ineffective but rendered effective by depression of key 70. A long stud 510 on this key serves to rock a shaft 512 and thus hook a pawl 517 beneath the pin 283 so that when this is displaced by cam 278 the pawl. which is pivoted on the link 140, is also pulled down to rock the release shaft 60 back beyond normal and so free the keys. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) also contained the description now embodied in Specifications 268,838 and 268,839.